Does the ‘Thunderbolts*’ Trailer Hint at Marvel De-Canonizing a Scene from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’?

The future of the MCU looks promising once again after a series of lackluster films, buoyed by Deadpool and Wolverine’s successful run in theaters and the exciting news that Robert Downey Jr. will return as Victor Von Doom, the next major antagonist in the MCU.

Before the release of the upcoming Avengers films, the MCU will introduce several new projects, all highly anticipated, though some are generating more buzz than others. One of these is the eagerly awaited Thunderbolts* film, set to hit theaters on May 2, 2025, barring any changes.

The first full trailer for the film has just dropped, and fans seem to be thrilled with it. The trailer reveals a wealth of new information, and we’re excited to share and analyze it for you. One particular scene has left fans puzzled, raising questions about the fate of a significant moment from an earlier MCU film.

The theory—or, more accurately, the question—is as follows:

At the end of ‘The guardians of the galaxy Holiday special’, it is revealed that Nebula gifts Rocket Bucky’s prosthetic vibranium arm but in the recent released Thunderbolts* trailer, we see Bucky has his arm back.

I hope the disappearance of the arm and mysterious return will be addressed OR this is a completely new arm.

I just don’t want the end of Christmas Special scene to be forgotten like it never happened.

Source: Reddit

The discussion was initiated on Reddit by user United_Pineapple_932, who presents a valid argument, as the two scenes appear to suggest a shift. While we still don’t know when Thunderbolts* takes place, and the circumstances surrounding Rocket’s new arm haven’t been fully clarified, there is still room for the writers to explain both scenes, though we doubt that will provide the answer.

In our view, there are two possibilities. First, Marvel may be de-canonizing the scene from The Guardians of the Galaxy special, which wouldn’t be entirely surprising considering how the series wrapped up and the lack of immediate plans for those characters, while the Thunderbolts are set to take on a significant role.

The second scenario is simpler: both scenes remain canon, with Bucky simply receiving a new arm. This seems like the most elegant solution, and we hope Marvel opts for this route.

Have anything to add? Let us know in the comments below!

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